Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-PM1

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Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-PM1

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Panasonic G3 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the G3.

4/3 224.9mm²
12.3 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-PM1 Review.

Succeeded by the Panasonic G5
Compare G3 vs G5
Compare Panasonic G5 vs Olympus E-PM1

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Differences

Panasonic G3 advantages over Olympus E-PM1

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
G3 test data on DxO Mark E-PM1 test data on DxO Mark

667 vs 499 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More pixels
16.0 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Olympus E-PM1 advantages over Panasonic G3

Less expensive
$500 vs $700 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

330 vs 270 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
34 mm vs 46 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
382g vs 583g
Lighter weight
Faster JPEG shooting
5.3 fps vs 3.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Panasonic G3

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-PM1

Review Excerpt

Read our Panasonic G3 Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Olympus E-PM1.
Read our Olympus E-PM1 Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PL3

Panasonic G3

Olympus E-PL3

$700
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Touchscreen

$700
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Lighter weight

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-PL3

Olympus E-PM1

Olympus E-PL3

$500
4/3

Less expensive

$700
4/3

Tiltable Screen

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus E-PL3

Compared to Panasonic GF3X

Panasonic G3

Panasonic GF3X

$700
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$750
4/3

Longer stills battery life
Thinner

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF3X

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic GF3X

$500
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$750
4/3

Touchscreen
Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3X

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5

$700
4/3

Internal flash
More viewfinder magnification

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-PM1

Olympus E-M5

$500
4/3

Lighter weight

$900
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Touchscreen

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Panasonic G3

Panasonic GX7

$700
4/3

Less expensive

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic GX7

$500
4/3

Less expensive
Thinner

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Olympus E-M10

Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M10

$700
4/3

More viewfinder magnification
Shoots 60p video

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-M10

Olympus E-PM1

Olympus E-M10

$500
4/3

Less expensive
Thinner

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus E-M10

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